Dealing with Suicide

Lillith Grey and I share many of the same passions and platforms, and so after I met her at CatalystCon in March, I began following her more closely. This article is a perfect example why. Probably the best thing I have ever read about the experience of a suicide within a community in which you lead/teach/hold responsibility. In fact to me, most of it applies to any unexpected death or accident/incident for which people feel responsible. I encourage everyone to read it!!!

Pretty Kitty Pages

Yesterday, in the middle of my workday, I learned that a member of our Leather family took her own life. Suicide is a choice that is exceptionally difficult to wrap our minds around, especially when the person isn’t around anymore to help us understand. It is the 10th leading cause of death in America, making it a serious threat to the well-being of people in our country. Because mental illness and mental health care are so stigmatized, and there is relatively little public dialogue about what suicide means and how it happens, it’s not a problem that is going to go away anytime soon.

The feelings that arise for survivors of suicide are complicated and uncomfortable, so if that’s the case for you, you’re not alone. You may be feeling responsibility, regret, anger, sorrow, guilt, or shame. You may be asking yourself “why?” over and over again, searching for answers…

View original post 1,877 more words